Blogcritics Author: Meg Heald

Book Review: Not Just Cartoons: Nicktoons! by Jerry Beck

Meg Heald — Wed, 5 Dec 2007 02:32:39 EST

Oozing green slime does not usually conjure up fond childhood memories. Unless, that is, you grew up with the Nicktoons.
For many kids who grew up in the nineties, nothing says "nostalgia" likes oozing green slime.Sounds like an odd memory, right? Not if you grew up with the Nicktoons.Nicktoons have long been the staple for Nickelodeon's television line-up. Since 1991, animators have worked to provide original cartoons like nothing else out there,...

PS2 Review: Manhunt 2

Meg Heald — Sat, 1 Dec 2007 18:03:00 EST

With uber-violent kills and a darkly evocative storyline, Manhunt 2 will keep players hooked for as long as they can stomach it.
Escaped convicts, leather-clad uber-baddies, and corrupt authority figures. Execution-style kills layered with hardcore fistfights. Highlight it all with a layer of sleaze that makes Vegas seem like Pleasantville, and you’ve got Rockstar Games’ latest bloodbath – Manhunt 2.Released in October of 2007, Manhunt 2 was the subject of...

I'm One in Ten: A College Girl Faces Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Meg Heald — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 19:03:11 EST

It's the leading cause of female infertility, takes a lifetime to fight, and can change the way a woman lives forever. And I've got it.
It is a disorder that affects one in ten women. It can occur in women of any race or nationality, causes side-effects which range from inconvenient to crippling, and is the leading cause of infertility among women of reproductive age. Yet mention its name to most people, and they have no idea what you’re talking about.It’s called PCOS,...

Book Review: The Naked Roommate and 107 Other Issues You Might Run Into in College

Meg Heald — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 18:32:35 EDT

With real-life advice and tongue-in-cheek humor, The Naked Roommate is a go-to guidebook on coping with the ever-changing college experience.
Harlan Cohen graduated high school with no fear of college. His older brothers had adapted to college with no trouble, and he expected to have an equally easy time of it. To his surprise, the first year was so difficult that he ended up transferring colleges and starting his freshman year all over again. By taking a completely different approach...

DVD Review: Demetri Martin, Person

Meg Heald — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 03:28:23 EDT

Demetri Martin's latest comedy special lets the rest of the world in on the simplistically literal yet charming way he sees the world.
When you were a kid, you probably went through a “labeling stuff” phase. You walked around your house to either your parents’ amusement or chagrin, writing what everything was right on it in the most straightforward way possible. If you’re like everyone else, you grew out of that phase. If you didn’t, you’re...

DVD Review: Drawn Together - Season Two

Meg Heald — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 21:43:27 EDT

It's unlike any other reality show ... and that's probably a good thing.
The token black chick shocks the sheltered daddy’s girl with her wild ways. The crude party animal and the macho egoist team up to harass the token gay guy. The culture-shocked foreign guy struggles to come to terms with the things going on in the household. And everyone’s forever addressing the camera. Although it may sound like nearly...

Joined-at-the-Hip Couple

Meg Heald — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 12:51:16 EDT

They go everywhere together and do everything together. They are Joined-at-the-Hip couple - and they scare me.
They walk up to the bus hand-in-hand and crowd on together. The bus is not made for people to walk two abreast, but these two do so anyway, pushing people aside and knocking shins in their wake as they press back to stand in the nearest open space. Unfortunately, this puts them directly in front of my seat. I bite back a sigh, knowing the normally...

Book Review: The Gunslinger - Book One of the Dark Tower Series by Stephen King

Meg Heald — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 22:06:55 EDT

Because no journey�s end is complete without an understanding of how it began, re-reading The Gunslinger is rewarding for a full grasp of the series.
Traveler, here lies the town of Tull.It is passing small, built around one main road which is bisected by three smaller ones. There is a tavern, and a tailor’s shop, and a mercantile that has gone under of late. Hard to keep business up with no one passing through. All the travel is one-way these days, with people riding hard for the north,...

Book Review: Traversing Stephen King's "Dark Tower" Series

Meg Heald — Wed, 3 Oct 2007 08:41:12 EDT

"The man in black fled across the desert, and the gunslinger followed." Pursue these two enigmatic figures through Stephen King's seven-book literary opus.
In 1970, a young college sophomore read Robert Browning’s epic poem “Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came.” Inspired by its chilling images and ominous tones, the student turned to the nearest sheet of paper (bright green, it was) and began to write. The student’s name was Stephen King, and the scribbles on those garish...

Webcomic Review: Looking for Group

Meg Heald — Sat, 29 Sep 2007 07:52:21 EDT

Epic quests, deadly enemies, and fluffy critters on fire. Welcome to Looking for Group.
Open scene on a lovely forested field. A young elven hunter, Cale’anon Vatay, emerges from the trees, backlit by sunlight and accompanied by butterflies and deer. He declares his intention to become a great hero and help the distressed, only to shortly thereafter be accosted by an evil warlock who, in the span of a few panels, completely...